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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R IV front
Portability
62
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Sony A7R IV
(Full Review)
  • 61MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Bump to 102800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 665g - 129 x 96 x 78mm
  • Revealed July 2019
  • Replaced the Sony A7R III
  • Refreshed by Sony A7R V
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A7R IV, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and A7R IV (61MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and A7R IV (Full frame) have different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was brought out 10 years before the A7R IV which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the A7R IV with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Sony A7R IV

 E-PL1 A7R IV 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R IV over the Olympus E-PL1

 A7R IV E-PL1 
RevealedJuly 2019May 2010More modern by 111 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1440k230kCrisper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A7R IV

 E-PL1 A7R IV 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 has exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Sony A7R IV has specifications of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") and a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A7R IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the A7R IV.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and A7R IV is 86 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and A7R IV.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A7R IV will offer you extra detail having its extra 49 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7R IV as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
88
manual focus
resolution is fantastic (61MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Sony A7R IV Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
79
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Sony A7R IV Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (290 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
90
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is fantastic (61 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
great battery pack (670 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography details
Sony A7R IV Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
terrible battery (290 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
74
great battery pack (670 per charge)
weather proof
has bluetooth
features focus via touch
resolution is fantastic (61 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Sony A7R IV Landscape photography features
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery (290 per charge)
no Timelapse function
88
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is fantastic (61MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (32,000)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
great battery pack (670 per charge)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Sony A7R IV
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone socket
37
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic support
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Sony A7R IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Sony A7R IV
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Sony Alpha A7R IV
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Sony Alpha A7R IV
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-05-17 2019-07-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 61 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 9504 x 6336
Maximum native ISO 3200 32000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 102800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 567
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync.
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 665g (1.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 129 x 96 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 99
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 14.8
DXO Low light rating 487 3344
Other
Battery life 290 shots 670 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 2
Cost at release $288 $3,498